McDonnell's Thesis: Backlash

Northern Virginians and independent women are the two groups whose vote preferences took a sharp turn in the new Washington Post poll on the upcoming Virginia gubernatorial election.

Among Northern Virginians, a near-even contest has turned into a solid lead for R. Creigh Deeds, the Democratic candidate, while independent women moved from a 28-point lead in favor of Republican Robert F. McDonnell to a 50 to 47 percent tilt to Deeds.

While the shift cannot be directly attributed to news about McDonnell's graduate school thesis, Northern Virginian and independent women voters are now much more apt to consider McDonnell too conservative, and broadly disagree with the ideals McDonnell advocated in the paper.

Northern Virginians are twice as likely as others in the state to say that government policies should treat homosexuality as acceptable, and half feel strongly that it would be worse for the country if women went back to the traditional roles they had in the 1950s.

Among independent women, perceptions of McDonnell as too conservative have risen sharply, and four in 10 say they feel strongly that reverting to traditional gender roles would make things worse.

Q. Do you think McDonnell's views on most issues are too liberal for you, too conservative for you, or just about right?

Q. In his thesis, McDonnell criticized working mothers and homosexuals as detrimental to families and urged the promotion of traditional values through government. McDonnell calls this not in-line with his current views while Deeds says this shows McDonnell's real positions on these issues. In thinking about your vote for governor, does this thesis make you more likely to support McDonnell, less likely or won't it affect your vote one way or the other?

Q. Considering everything, do you think it would be better or worse for the country if men and women went back to the traditional roles they had in the 1950s, or don't you think it would make a difference?

Q. Which view comes closest to your own: Government should promote policies and programs discouraging homosexuality, Government should promote policies and programs that treat homosexuality as acceptable, -OR- Government should not get involved in this issue.